Styles

Classics, Vol. 3

AllMusic Review
by Jason Elias

This collection was released during the time of A&M's 25th anniversary. Also at the time CD technology was still a new thing. That might explain the near-scientific title. Two of Jones' more quirky arrangements, "Gula Matari" and the "Sanford and Son Theme," show up here. In a surprise move, Jones' graceful and apt cover of Stevie Wonder's "You've Got It Bad Girl" makes this compilation. While Jones' vocals can be best described as thin, his lack of vocal gifts also play well in the mix on the cover of "What's Going On." Not surprisingly Classics, Vol. 3 has a lot from Jones' last A&M effort, the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning The Dude. The best tracks from that effort, "Razzamatazz" and "Betcha' Wouldn't Hurt Me," feature vocals from his finest female vocalist, Patti Austin. The never-a-hit and flat-out bad "Things Could Be Worse for Me" is the only thing that doesn't belong here. This set wasn't meant to be an essential overview and it does miss tracks like "Manteca," "Theme From the Anderson Tapes," and the phenomenal "Tell Me Bedtime Story." While Classics, Vol. 3 does indulge in quite a few bogus edits, too, this does balance 12 years of hits extremely well.